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Updated: May 12, 2026

A Murine Model of Ischemic Retinal Injury Induced by Transient Bilateral Common Carotid Artery Occlusion
Published on: November 12, 2020
Central retinal artery occlusion due to infective endocarditis
Nikolaos G Ziakas1, Sokratis Kotsidis, Antonios Ziakas
11st Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece.
Insights
Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a rare complication of infective endocarditis. Prompt diagnosis and treatment are crucial for vision, even during antibiotic therapy.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Cardiology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Infective endocarditis poses a risk for embolic events.
- Central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) is a serious ophthalmic complication.
Observation:
- A 59-year-old male with infective endocarditis developed CRAO despite antibiotic treatment.
- Conservative management for CRAO yielded no improvement.
Findings:
- The patient underwent successful aortic and mitral valve replacement surgery.
- CRAO can occur irrespective of systemic antibiotic treatment for endocarditis.
Implications:
- Patients with infective endocarditis require vigilant monitoring for embolic events like CRAO.
- Early diagnosis and intervention are critical for preserving vision in CRAO cases.
- Surgical intervention may be necessary for underlying cardiac conditions contributing to embolic risk.
Abstract:
We present a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) in a 59-year-old male suffering from infective endocarditis. The patient was receiving antibiotic treatment for the endocarditis for 5 days prior to the event and received conservative treatment for the CRAO without any improvement. A few days after the event, the patient underwent heart surgery with aortic and mitral valve replacement and eventually recovered without any other side-effects. CRAO is a rare but devastating embolic complication of infective endocarditis and can happen regardless of whether a patient is receiving systemic antibiotic treatment or not. These patients need close observation, because an immediate diagnosis and an urgent therapeutic procedure are mandatory, as the prognosis for vision is poor.
Related Concept Videos
Endocarditis I: Introduction
Endocarditis II: Clinical Features of Infective Endocarditis
Endocarditis IV: Nursing Management
Endocarditis III: Medical Management
Rheumatic Heart Disease I: Introduction
Cardiomyopathy IV: Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
